G7 Leaders Meeting To Discuss US Troop Withdrawal From Afghanistan

24 Irish citizens & 12 Irish passport/visa holders remain in the country

G7 leaders are meeting to discuss whether an extension to the deadline for evacuation from Afghanistan, should be sought.

Under an agreement with the Taliban, US troops must leave the country by 31st August.

24 Irish citizens, and 12 Irish passport or visa holders are still waiting to be evacuated.

The Taliban says the deadline, for foreign nationals to be evacuated from the country, will not be extended.

The group says there will be consequences if foreign forces remain, after the deadline agreed with the US.

A small group of army rangers are due to arrive at Kabul Airport later to evacuate remaining Irish citizens.

The Taliban says it will no longer allow Afghans to reach the airport - and is asking America not to encourage people to leave.

Spokesperson for the militant group, Zabihullah Mujahid, says there's enough time for foreign nationals to leave before the deadline: 

Paul Rogers, Professor of Peace Studies at Bradford University, says people are wrongly assuming the US is calling the shots:

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to urge US President, Joe Biden, to delay the US withdrawal.

More than 30,000 have been evacuated from the country so far.

Roja Fazawli, Associate Professor in Islamic Civilisations at Trinity College Dublin, says many thousands won't be so lucky:

A group of less than 10 Afghan refugees arrived into Dublin last night.

They are among the first the government has agreed to accept under the International Refugee Protection Programme.

Nick Henderson from the Irish Refugee Council says it's a momentous occassion:

The meeting is expected to begin 2.30pm, Irish time, with US President Biden expected to make remarks on the situation at 5pm, Irish time.

Boris Johnson to chair G7 meeting on Afghanistan as Joe Biden mulls extending evacuation effort https://t.co/20w1V9TPPO

— TheJournal.ie (@thejournal_ie) August 24, 2021